The Duel (2016)

Texas Ranger David Kingston (Liam Hemsworth) is sent to investigate the disappearance of a number of Mexican citizens in Mount Hermon, a Texan town, which brings him into contact with a man he's not seen for twenty-two years. The man is Abraham Brant (Woody Harrelson), who, since their last meeting in rain and blood, has supposedly been "touched by God".
There's a decent sense of hostility in the townsfolk, but Hemsworth is pretty bland much of the time, coming alive only when armed and angered. In contrast, there's a hint of Colonel Kurtz about Harrelson's Abraham, leading with a hospitality that's threatening. The supporting characters feel very 'written' for purpose, including Abraham's son Isaac (Emory Cohen), who's both a thorn in the Ranger's side and a bitter disappointment to his father.

2½ dust coverings out of 5

CITY OF GOD: 10 YEARS LATER [2013]

In 2002, directors Fernando Meirelles & Kátia Lund's unsettling Brazilian crime drama City of God took the world by storm as it rubbed shoulders with the likes of The Lord of the Rings, Mystic River and other critically acclaimed films of it's time.  Film-makers Cavi Borges & Luciano Vidigal takes us back to the actor's lives and show how their lifestyles developed in the decade since the award-winning film in 10 Years Later.
Like Slumdog Millionaire, it took the actors out of their poverty-stricken lives, tossed them into the spotlight of nice hotel rooms, limo rides, mingling with the stars and after awards season was done they were tossed right back into the slums.   It's no secret that some of the actors, like Alice Braga, made a name for themselves afterwards but others were not so lucky and were forced to live the same lives as their onscreen personas.  As a fan of the film it's an interesting watch, however if you're not familiar, you'll more than likely be lost as to who and why you're watching.

3 long-lost memories out of 5

Repo Men: Unrated Version (2010)

I expected crap from all but Forest Whitaker, but I was pleasantly surprised by the rest of it. It's like Logan's Run (1976) for a new era, with the colourful hedonism replaced by moody lighting and corporate ugliness.
What kept me entertained the most was the black humour and, more specifically, the many small ironies woven into the situations and social contexts. The hero's change of heart, for example, is pure irony, as is allowing people to extend their life by signing it away.

The future as presented isn't completely unrealistic. It's the American health service taken to its extreme next level. If they could get away with that kind of thing today, then they'd probably do it.

3½ pink sheets out of 5

I Am Legend (2007)

The thing that Hollywood’s third attempt finally got right was to use some of their millions of dollars to show a world reclaimed by nature; the overgrown foliage and wild animals prowling the streets add authenticity.
The first half of the film is good, or maybe not as shit as I remembered it being, but once the infected CGI Resident Evil rejects make an appearance it begins a slow and steady decline into colourless tedium.
Two different endings were shot. They used the shit one. If you can, check out the superior one directly after to undo a little of the damage.

2½ human trials out of 5

City of God (2002)

A powerful Brazilian drama directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund that's set in a poor, crime-ridden suburb of Rio de Janeiro. It’s told primarily as flashback, with style and substance on equal footing, illuminated with the kind of natural light that money can’t buy.
The city is a place wherein good friends and a gun can help you get by. A plan can get you further but could just as easily get you killed. Rocket has the latter, but even that isn't a guaranteed ticket out of the slum.
The V/O is from one character but it tells the story of many, each of the small cogs that help the larger cogs turn. The feeling that the City of God is as much a victim as the individuals that inhabit it is ever present.

5 lucky shots out of 5

The Rite (2011)

At first glance this seems to be a more refined look at the Exorcism sub-genre as it casts the thespian heavy-hitter Anthony Hopkins as Father Trevant, a veteran exorcist who takes a skeptical young student (Colin O'Donoghue) under his wing, but with a PG-13 rating the film never delves deep enough to produce any thrills. Instead of a disturbing, in-your-face exorcism, the slow character driven opening scenes are a nice change of pace. O'Donoghue does a fine job in his most prominent role to date as an intelligent and capable young man forced into his roles in the story. The latter half isn't particularly fresh and the ending is handled with Saturday morning cartoon kid-gloves.

2½ your father sucks clocks in Hell out of 5

ELYSIUM [2013]

After the astonishingly wonderful District 9 I was more than eager to dive back into another gritty Neill Blomkamp sci-fi thriller.
Unfortunately Elysium doesn't quite live up to his previous film.
Not to say it's bad, in fact it's filled with some wonderful & creative ideas, thought provoking themes and some amazing visuals but Blomkamp seemed to forget to add any dimension to his characters this time around.  With what little characterization there is, it almost feels like a Saturday morning cartoon.  It's heavy weaknesses aside, Elysium is still an enjoyable sci-fi thrill ride that rises above most of the other trash they try to pull off as sci-fi these days.

3 brain downloads out of 5

ON THE ROAD [2012]

Director Walter Salles takes up the near impossible task of adapting Jack Kerouac's novel On The Road for the screen. 

The results are somewhat hit & miss but still incredibly impressive mostly due to the strong presences and nuanced performances from Sam Riley & Garret Hedlund as Sal & Dean. The cinematography is quite breathtaking and thoughtful as is the jazz music constantly dropping in and out of the background.  Unfortunately the recklessness and danger of it's source material is watered down by Salles' inability to take any real risks.  Still, as a fan of the book, it was a joy to see Sal & Dean come to life.

3 frightened hitchhikers out of 5

Predators (2010)

Using a plot device that every sci-fi TV series in the history of ever has used, sometimes more than once, means Predators feels like it’s been made hundreds of times before. Swap crab-face out for some other alien and it would play out exactly the same.
Adrien Brody was miscast. The remainder of the team were stock types, especially token female. Michelle Rodríguez must've been busy elsewhere.

2 nobody ever needs to piss out of 5